Cinder Block Smoker

[JC in GB]

It would hold temperature more evenly. Kind of like a water pan or brick in your smoker.
Once the sand gets up to temperature it won't drop as fast as air space would.

I wonder if perlite would achieve that same thing?

 

[siege]

Just the opposite. Perlite is a construction insulation used to provide a thermal break in concrete and masonry. It would block the heat, and not hold it. It is also more expensive than sand.

 

[daveomak]

Perlite will add insulation.. It will not add thermal mass....

 

[JC in GB]

Just the opposite. Perlite is a construction insulation used to provide a thermal break in concrete and masonry. It would block the heat, and not hold it. It is also more expensive than sand.

Perlite will add insulation.. It will not add thermal mass....

Right you are, however, would not an insulating material behind the firebrick give you enough thermal mass and also be insulated enough to reduce fuel consumption?

I used a great deal of perlite concrete when building my stone oven. Mostly for insulation behind the cladding layer. I think if I made a full concrete block type of enclosure, I would likely make the cook chamber insulated on the outer walls.

Perlite cement with 1" dimpled stainless steel wires for reinforcement.

Notice perlite concrete layer, cladding layer, firebox layer.

For my design idea, I would have the walls made of the perlite concrete with full firebrick lining the inside. That should provide both enough thermal mass and insulation. IMHO


Just thinking out loud I guess....




Thanks,

JC

 

[daveomak]

I'm not sure of what you noted...
My thinking....
FB first... insulation behind the Fire Brick.....

Other wise, the FB would be a wasted expense...

 

[JC in GB]

I'm not sure of what you noted...
My thinking....
FB first... insulation behind the Fire Brick.....

Other wise, the FB would be a wasted expense...

Yes, certainly. I would not add the insulation in the cooking side of the enclosure. The cook side would be firebrick with perlite concrete walls. Similar to my photo above with out the cladding layer.

 

[fivetricks]

Sounds like a 10,000 dollar solution to a 100 dollar problem IMHO.

 

[daveomak]

You will have a great smoker to use for years to come...

 

[JC in GB]

Sounds like a 10,000 dollar solution to a 100 dollar problem IMHO.

Perlite is not that expensive.

Anyway, just a thought.

 

[fivetricks]

:-) I more meant the labor